One of the most popular mobile gaming devices is the iPad. The said website is looking to allow multiple mobile applications to gamble via unregulated online casino operators. The fear though, according to NDP MLA Shane Simpson is that myriad smartphone users are young and online gambling is certainly not in their best interests. With online gambling anonymity, underage gambling is very much a concern to the authorities. The fear that children and teens will be engaging in smartphone gambling is bolstered by the lack of safeguards to prevent this very activity from taking place.

The Prosecution Grounds Plans for Casino Expansion

One of the former Crown prosecutors, Sandra Garossino, led the charge earlier in 2011 to cut the legs from an initiative to expand a Vancouver casino operation. The reasons cited were problem gambling and money laundering. She further alluded to the ‘irresponsible and poorly planned efforts’ within the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. But the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the B.C. Lottery Corporation is throwing his weight behind his decision to take the company to mobile players. He believes that the demand is already there and that his corporation is simply catering to it. There are some 2,000 websites in Canada and many of them allow for mobile gaming applications. Where PlayNow differs is that it consciously makes an effort to verify age and responsible gaming conduct. Self-exclusion will preclude the ability of players to access the gaming application. The launch date for the mobile app is spring 2012.

About PlayNow

Online players at  the PlayNow.com website are able to enjoy myriad games including: Bingo, Poker, Casino, Sports, Slots and Lottery games. Additionally there are a wide range of interactive games too. The likes of Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Sic Bo and other games abound. A terrific Bad Beat jackpot is available at this outstanding online poker room and players across British Columbia and Quebec can enjoy uninterrupted poker gaming.

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Microgaming Opts to Block

The severe punitive measures being dished out to gaming operators allowing USA citizens to gamble at their websites has meant that fewer risks are now being taken. The value of USA customers is seen less as an advantage as it is a burden today. Microgaming – the world’s leading software gaming developer – has decided to unilaterally block all USA players from its large and ever-growing player base. As it stands, Microgaming has not accepted new US players into its base. That they were permitting online casinos to service only existing US players is testament to their caution in this day and age. But Microgaming is a little more business savvy than its competition.

Microgaming realized that the UIGEA would complicate online gaming in the USA. As far back as 2006 it accepted that it would be targeted by the US DoJ and the FBI as a result of allowing USA players to gamble at its casinos. But the Kentucky seizure of multiple domain names – including Microgaming.com – meant that caution was the order of the day. What Microgaming did, was to allow individual operators on its network to choose whether to permit new USA players to join. This stands in contrast to Playtech which unilaterally sacrificed the USA market when the sweeping changes came into effect. Microgaming blocked some 13 states from gaming online in the aftermath of the Kentucky seizures. The rest of the states were deemed a ‘grey area’ and their residents would be allowed to continue gaming, but new player registrations were forbidden.

The Change as it Stands Today

Now Microgaming has done another about-turn. No USA player is allowed to gamble at any Microgaming casino. This will obfuscate the authorities and allow for the instant removal of all USA players from all Microgaming casinos. Existing player funds in the casinos will have to be repaid, but time is required to put that into effect. The onus now falls squarely onto the shoulders of USA customers when deciding which online casinos to wager at. Selecting any online casino from within the USA is likely to yield increasingly negative outcomes.

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The driving force behind Horne’s bill

The word is out and it’s Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd which is pushing hard to get this bill into the legislature. This company – otherwise known as PokerStars is based in the Isle of Man. The beneficiaries of such a bill include the likes of PokerStars and FullTilt – currently in the USA poker market. Various legal loopholes suggest that the Commission should not unduly reject an offer for the issuing of a license from an operator based on the operator being licensed outside the current market. The specific text comes replete with legalese and is riddled with clauses and requirements. Suffice it to say that the process is taking time and if and when it comes to the right person for signature into law, it will be a massive victory for online poker in the USA. The Nevada bill being championed applies only to online poker. The agreement contained within the bill allows Nevada to do business with other jurisdictions, but only with regards to online poker gaming.

Other hot gaming news on the horizon

Caesars Entertainment which operates the WSOP will team up with 888.com’s Dragonfish to provide services to the UK and showcase the World Series of Poker. Moves to legalize intrastate gaming were vetoed by NJ Governor Chris Christie. No constitutional override is likely to take place. Even in Nevada – the silver state – gaming on the internet is not likely to pass Federal legislation. Real life casinos will counter the challenge by online poker rooms.

It makes sense therefore that PartyPoker and FullTilt will be rebuffed by the big casino operators. For now it’s looking none-too-hopeful that online poker gaming is going to generate waves in the Federal approval pool. What is sure, is that online poker will continue to be accessible as long as US regulations are unable to close loopholes allowing for its continued enjoyment throughout the country.

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What are the policy objectives of the new agreement?

Foremost among players are the following 9 objectives:

1. Safe and fair gaming practices
2. Fighting online fraud
3. The protection of player privacy
4. Moves to prevent underage/illegal gambling activities
5. Protecting vulnerable customers from gambling
6. The preservation of player privacy measures
7. The timely and responsible payment of winnings and cashouts
8. Responsible marketing practices
9. Total customer satisfaction initiatives

These initiatives have been concluded between multiple stakeholders. These include leading industry experts, problem gambling aficionados, online players, industry representatives and leading academics. All of these vested parties are working together to ensure that a standardization of practices will be put into place for the benefit of customers.  The CEO of eCOGRA – Andrew Beveridge – alluded to the fact that in the past 7 months CEN has worked hard to make this important agreement a reality. It not only ensures that the very highest levels of protection will ensue in the gaming industry, but it also safeguards Europe as a whole. eCOGRA will work hard to make this a standard across the gaming industry, for sealholders as well as players. Pundits note that this is self-regulation at its very best.

What is eCOGRA all about?

eCOGRA is the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance organization. It was founded seven years ago by competing online gaming companies. The purpose was to improve operation standards and increase player protection. In bringing greater accountability and integrity into the fold, this is the best way to provide Safe and Fair gaming to all. As an organization, eCOGRA is displayed as a seal on various online gaming websites. Those industries showcasing the eCOGRA seal are viewed as safe and responsible gaming operators. Thus the eCOGRA brand is synonymous with fairness, responsible gaming, professional conduct and top-tier gaming standards. New affiliates and software gaming companies are able to apply for eCOGRA accreditation, provided they meet the stringent requirements as set out at www.ecogra.org.

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How Lawmakers Made Gaming History in the USA

When the idea was floated to allow this type of gaming legislation to players in the Garden State, the Governor was ready to sign, seal and deliver this piece of legislation. According to the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, there is significant progress in legal Internet betting in the state. The Governor of New Jersey – Chris Christie – is however set to veto the bill that would legalize Internet betting. This is in direct contradiction to the popular belief that Christie was in favour of legalizing betting. This would significantly affect the economy, much to its detriment. These initiatives would have helped boost the NJ economy which is suffering through these tough times.  Here’s where it gets interesting though – Christie had until February 24^th to veto the bill or else it would go into law. Note that the Assembly can ignore the Governor’s veto and even approve the bill. Republicans are typically opposed to approving legislation that would pave the way for legalization of online gaming. Part of the reason why Christie may never support this piece of legislation is that he is a Republican stalwart and if he runs for president in 2012, he may be perceived as disloyal to party values. The tide is starting to turn in the USA though, because online poker is being perceived as a game of skill and not a game of chance. This would mean that poker sites like Full Tilt Poker would be able to market their wares to USA players without fear of contravening gambling legislation.

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Hot betting tournament action

Online players will enjoy the benefits of both private and public tournaments. The latter are akin to the standard fantasy sports league games. And it’s really easy to invite friends and fellow players through social networking sites such as Facebook and your own e-mail contact list. Here’s the clincher: if you wish to play for real money, then this is easily done by funding from major debit and credit cards.  Now that this is out of the way, let’s get down to what’s available. Two of the top games that players can enjoy include Fifa and NHL (11′) . Recall the days when a group of pals place small cash bets on hard-hitting video games? Well a buck here or there certainly makes these game highly competitive and lots of fun. The thing is that very little compares to the awesome entertainment value of multiplayer gaming.

The concept of Playhem.com and what it means to players

There are loads of games available on the Playhem.com network. These include: Thunderbolt, GamesWeasel and Kingdom Hearts. The founder of Playhem.com is Ryan DeSanto. The concept of online gaming at this power-packed platform is to bring friends together to compete against one another for big prizes. Where this network differs from big-gaming brands is in the personalized gaming nature of the site. Groups are smaller and more communication amongst players is possible. When compared to Virgin Gaming, the games on this site are easier to get into and far less intimidating. Now that Playhem.com’s open beta platform has opened there is plenty to get excited about here.

Benefits of Playhem.com gaming

Now you trash talk with other players as if you’re in the very same room. And if you’ve got a creative flair, you can manage your very own tournaments too. Social networking sites in Facebook and Twitter can be used to invite friends, share tips and strategies and work to improve your gaming play. And if you want to play for free, this is the ideal platform to do it. Now you can play video games against your friends for rewards and glory.

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Why was 32Red Casino worried about William Hill’s acquisition?

The fact of the matter was that during the three years prior to 32Vegas being owned by William Hill, 32Red Plc was not particularly concerned. Things changed dramatically once WH Casino took over ownership of 32Vegas – for obvious reasons. With William Hill being one of the world’s biggest online gaming operators, they were sure to promote 32Vegas as aggressively as possible. This would have dire consequences for 32Red Plc. William Hill was not looking for a confrontation though and they closed down 32Vegas within a very short period of time and renamed it 21 Nova Casino. But the name change alone was insufficient to placate 32Red Plc owners. The sites were so similar in style, colour and content that the latter felt that it would be in their best interests to take legal action against 32Vegas. Even the European judges felt that online players may either feel that these two casinos were affiliated or even the same casino. As can be expected, 32Red Plc’s property rights will deter any future instances of a similar transgression. The trademark violation incurred by William Hill’s use of the 32Vegas name and site will likely result in them paying for 32Red’s legal fees and an uncertain amount in damages.

About 32Red Casino

32Red Casino is a successful online casino that has won 6 successive Best Casino awards and Best Player Support awards. In January 2010 32Red Casino won the Best Online Casino of the Decade – a glittering honor in the gaming industry. Casinomeister – the premier gaming watchdog – awarded this prestigious accolade to 32Red Casino. All support staff at 32Red are expertly trained and offer superior customer service 24/7, 365.

About William Hill Casino

William Hill remains a world leader in the online gaming realm. Besides being the most instantly recognizable name in online gaming, it has extensive operations throughout the world. There are over 15,000 employees and some 2,300 retail shops. William Hill PLC was listed on the LSE (London Stock Exchange) in 2002. William Hill is primarily a bookmaker with expert knowledge of fixed-odds betting. Stellar quality and expert customer service are its trademarks.

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In spite of the efforts of legislators across the USA, few initiatives to overturn US gaming laws at succeeded at all. These efforts have spanned state and federal levels and nothing has resulted in anything more than idle banter. But now for the good news: Senator Ray Lesniak has proposed a far-reaching bill that he says should pass in both the Assembly and the Senate. His piece of legislation would see a regulated online casino industry with New Jersey’s Atlantic City casinos as the sole beneficiaries. Could this well be the start of something big? Time will certainly tell. The only man in the way of this legislation coming into effect is Governor Chris Christie. If the governor signs the legislation – effectively signing it into law – then it’s all done and dusted and history will be made. Beyond online gambling efforts, Governor Christie has been the leading figure in wanting to re-energize Atlantic City’s gaming industry. He has been instrumental in pushing for an overhaul of New Jersey’s racetracks and he’s also held various summits and meetings at Meadowlands to hammer out the details. Party politics – even his own – could see his efforts wasted. This should come as no surprise from people in the know, but it often happens that even within the ranks of one’s own party, moves to provide radically different legislation are often frowned upon. Dramatic legislation maneuvering such as this one would see New Jersey as the leader of the pack in regulating online gambling at state level. While it’s true that online gambling at a national level is certainly not even on the horizon, state level regulation is a distinct possibility. And the ball is clearly in Christie’s hands.

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